Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply specialized project management principles tailored to the dynamic environment of **IT projects**.
• Understand and integrate projects with various **Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)** models (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, Iterative).
• Master techniques for managing requirements volatility and ensuring effective **Scope Definition** in IT initiatives.
• Develop comprehensive **IT Risk Management** strategies, addressing technical failure, security, and integration risks.
• Effectively manage complex **IT Vendor and Contract Management** for software and system procurement.
• Plan for and execute the critical transition of new IT systems into business operations (Go-Live).
• Lead and motivate diverse IT teams, including developers, testers, and network specialists.
• Implement effective communication strategies for both technical and non-technical stakeholders (business sponsors).

• IT Project Managers and Project Coordinators
• IT Team Leads and Functional Managers
• Business Analysts and Systems Analysts
• IT Consultants and Technical Architects
• Professionals managing large system implementation or software development projects

• Group Workshop: Developing an Integrated IT Risk Register (technical, security, business)
• Case Studies: Analyzing a major system implementation failure and identifying root causes in PM/OCM integration
• Individual Exercises: Drafting a Requirements Elicitation Plan for a new software feature
• Role-Playing: Managing a conflict between a business sponsor and a technical architect over scope change
• Discussions: Comparing agile vs. waterfall approaches for different types of IT projects (e.g., infrastructure vs. software)

Unit 1: The IT Project Landscape and Lifecycle

• Understanding the unique challenges of IT projects (rapid change, complexity, intangible deliverables).
• Overview of different **SDLC Models** (Waterfall, V-Model, Iterative, Agile) and their relevance to project structure.
• The role of the Project Manager in aligning IT projects with strategic business value.
• Key IT project stakeholders: CIO, steering committees, technical teams, and end-users.

Unit 2: Scope, Requirements, and Scheduling in IT

Definition and Control
• Advanced techniques for requirements elicitation and documentation in volatile environments.
• Strategies for managing **Scope Creep** and controlling changes to IT requirements (Change Control Board).
• Scheduling techniques for software development: estimation (e.g., Story Points, Function Points) and managing dependencies.
• The importance of continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) in modern IT projects.

Unit 3: IT Risk, Quality, and Security Management

Assurance and Protection
• Identifying and managing key **IT Risks**: technical debt, security breaches, data migration issues, and integration failure.
• Implementing a Quality Assurance (QA) and testing strategy (unit, integration, system, UAT).
• The importance of compliance and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) in IT project execution.
• Planning for and managing system reliability, availability, and performance.

Unit 4: IT Procurement and Vendor Management

External Dependencies
• Strategies for managing complex IT procurement: COTS vs. custom development decisions.
• Mastering **IT Contract Management** and managing the relationship with third-party vendors.
• Techniques for overseeing Systems Integrators and ensuring they meet project scope and quality.
• Managing intellectual property (IP) rights and licensing agreements in software acquisition.

Unit 5: Transition and Post-Implementation

Adoption and Sustainment
• Planning and executing the crucial **System Cutover and Go-Live** strategy.
• Integrating the project with **Organizational Change Management (OCM)** for user adoption.
• Developing a robust **Rollback/Contingency Plan** in case of implementation failure.
• Mastering the transition of the delivered system to the operations (ITIL) support team.